NEW G4 powerbook = electrocution!

macrumors regular

anyone else get electrocuted using the 1.33 powerbook??
i'm now on my 2nd week of using it and i get electrocuted every 5 minutes or so. no fun. i've turned to using wrist pads to separate my wrist from the metal surface... but every so often i touch it and get zapped. it's not like a big shock, but it's definitely more painful than static! is this a problem?

macrumors 68040

yes, do it now, there's something wrong with it. something inside that should be isolated is clearly touching the case, and that indicates a time bomb - some day some chip cannot handle it anymore and it will break.

macrumors 6502a

It sounds like your problem is the earthing, it is most probably something badly wired in the plug or socket or perhaps in your house. But i would recommend not using your laptop for a while cos this could destroy components that are very sensitive to electricity ie. the whole computer.
But perhaps you should check the plug, perhaps call up apple, call up an electrician?

macrumors 68020

Don't waste your money on an electrician - just send it back into Apple or take it directly to an Apple Store. This is a problem that has happened to other people - som faulty wiring inside. Take it in and they will fix or replace your Mac. Be sure to back up your data first as they may either give you a new machine or wipe your hard drive clean.

macrumors G3

It sounds like your problem is the earthing, it is most probably something badly wired in the plug or socket or perhaps in your house. But i would recommend not using your laptop for a while cos this could destroy components that are very sensitive to electricity ie. the whole computer.
But perhaps you should check the plug, perhaps call up apple, call up an electrician?

macrumors 6502a

Well here we call it earthing, cos that usually means that the earth line in your plug or appliances is faulty. The earth plug is usually the green one. I don't know, but that is what i was taught at school, could be different were you are from??

macrumors 68030

anyone else get electrocuted using the 1.33 powerbook??
i'm now on my 2nd week of using it and i get electrocuted every 5 minutes or so. no fun. i've turned to using wrist pads to separate my wrist from the metal surface... but every so often i touch it and get zapped. it's not like a big shock, but it's definitely more painful than static! is this a problem?

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do you actually see an arc of eletricity or is it transfering from metal to skin directly? when you don't feel a big shock do you feel current running through your skin? for temporary relief use the cable with the ground wire, this will ground your PB so your body won't be the ground make sure you the ground in your house or wherever is a working ground.

thread startermacrumors regular

hmm, i never thought it was such a big problem, but i will have to bring it in to have the computer looked at.
i've noticed that when the laptop is placed on my lap, there are no problems. but when placed on my wooden desktop... it hurts.
and to answer the question of whether i see a spark. well, no, it only happens when i come into contact with it. and it's not intense enough to feel all the way down my body, just from wrist to elbow. but sometimes it makes my whole arm jolt... it's not a pleasant feeling, especially since i happens so frequently.

when you guys say "it doesn't happen often, but you have heard of instances" how often is... not often? i've never heard of shocks coming from the computer before.

another thing to note... my pbook builds up a electric force after prolonged use. by that i mean... there's a static rub on the entire casing, so that when i run my hands along the computer, i can feel the vibrations of static. strange. only place i've witnessed that is in the science museum. haha.

macrumors regular

The latest powerbooks use a grounded AC Adapter. You will see a metal guide/pin where the AC cord plugs in. However, if you use a duckhead plug or 3rd party 2pin AC plug you may receive some electric shocks.

macrumors newbie

The latest powerbooks use a grounded AC Adapter. You will see a metal guide/pin where the AC cord plugs in. However, if you use a duckhead plug or 3rd party 2pin AC plug you may receive some electric shocks.

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Really? My new 17" 1.5GHz powerbook came with an AC adapter with the standard 2 prong polarized plug. No ground wire on the adapter or the extention it comes with.

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